Heterocyclyl-3-sulfonylazaindole or-azaindazole derivatives as 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 ligands

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a compound of formula I and the use thereof for the treatment of a central nervous system disorder related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority from provisional application No.60/447515 filed on Feb. 14, 2003, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine)(5-HT) receptors play a critical role inmany physiological and behavioral functions in humans and animals. Thesefunctions are mediated through various 5-HT receptors distributedthroughout the body. There are now approximately fifteen different human5-HT receptor subtypes that have been cloned, many with well-definedroles in humans. One of the most recently identified 5-HT receptorsubtypes is the 5-HT6 receptor, first cloned from rat tissue in 1993(Monsma, F. J.; Shen, Y.; Ward, R. P.; Hamblin, M. W. MolecularPharmacology 1993, 43, 320-327) and subsequently from human tissue(Kohen, R.; Metcalf, M. A.; Khan, N.; Druck, T.; Huebner, K.; Sibley, D.R. Journal of Neurochemistry 1996, 66, 47-56). The receptor is aG-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) positively coupled to adenylatecyclase (Ruat, M.; Traiffort, E.; Arrang, J-M.; Tardivel-Lacombe, L.;Diaz, L.; Leurs, R.; Schwartz, J-C. Biochemical Biophysical ResearchCommunications 1993, 193, 268-276). The receptor is found almostexclusively in the central nervous system (CNS) areas both in rat and inhuman. In situ hybridization studies of the 5-HT6 receptor in rat brainusing mRNA indicate principal localization in the areas of 5-HTprojection including striatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle,and hippocampal formation (Ward, R. P.; Hamblin, M. W.; Lachowicz, J.E.; Hoffman, B. J.; Sibley, D. R.; Dorsa, D. M. Neuroscience 1995,64,1105-1111).

There are many potential therapeutic uses for 5-HT6 ligands in humansbased on direct effects and on indications from available scientificstudies. These studies include the localization of the receptor, theaffinity of ligands with known in vivo activity, and various animalstudies conducted so far.

One potential therapeutic use of modulators of 5-HT6 receptor functionis in the enhancement of cognition and memory in human diseases such asAlzheimer's. The high levels of receptor found in important structuresin the forebrain, including the caudate/putamen, hippocampus, nucleusaccumbens, and cortex suggest a role for the receptor in memory andcognition since these areas are known to play a vital role in memory(Gerard, C.; Martres, M.-P.; Lefevre, K.; Miquel, M. C.; Verge, D.;Lanfumey, R.; Doucet, E.; Hamon, M.; El Mestikawy, S. Brain Research,1997, 746, 207-219). The ability of known 5-HT6 receptor ligands toenhance cholinergic transmission also supported the potential cognitionuse (Bentley, J. C.; Boursson, A.; Boess, F. G.; Kone, F. C.; Marsden,C. A.; Petit, N.; Sleight, A. J. British Journal of Pharmacology, 1999,126(7), 1537-1542). Studies have found that a known 5-HT6 selectiveantagonist significantly increased glutamate and aspartate levels in thefrontal cortex without elevating levels of noradrenaline, dopamine, or5-HT. This selective elevation of neurochemicals known to be involved inmemory and cognition strongly suggests a role for 5-HT6 ligands incognition (Dawson, L. A.; Nguyen, H. Q.; Li, P. British Journal ofPharmacology, 2000, 130(1), 23-26). Animal studies of memory andlearning with a known selective 5-HT6 antagonist found some positiveeffects (Rogers, D. C.; Hatcher, P. D.; Hagan, J. J. Society ofNeuroscience, Abstracts 2000, 26, 680). Further support for the role ofa selective 5-HT6 ligand in cognition can be found in Woolley, M. L.;Marsden, C. A.; Sleight, A. J.; and Fone, K. C. F., Psychopharmacology,2003, 170(4), 358-367.

A related potential therapeutic use for 5-HT6 ligands is the treatmentof attention deficit disorders (ADD, also known as Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder or ADHD) in both children and adults. Because5-HT6 antagonists appear to enhance the activity of the nigrostriataldopamine pathway and because ADHD has been linked to abnormalities inthe caudate (Ernst, M; Zametkin, A. J.; Matochik, J. H.; Jons, P. A.;Cohen, R. M. Journal of Neuroscience 1998, 18(15), 5901-5907), 5-HT6antagonists may attenuate attention deficit disorders.

Early studies examining the affinity of various CNS ligands with knowntherapeutic utility or a strong structural resemblance to known drugssuggests a role for 5-HT6 ligands in the treatment of schizophrenia anddepression. For example, clozapine (an effective clinical antipsychotic)has high affinity for the 5-HT6 receptor subtype. Also, several clinicalantidepressants have high affinity for the receptor as well and act asantagonists at this site (Branchek, T. A.; Blackburn, T. P. AnnualReviews in Pharmacology and Toxicology 2000, 40, 319-334).

Further, recent in vivo studies in rats indicate 5-HT6 modulators may beuseful in the treatment of movement disorders including epilepsy (Stean,T.; Routledge, C.; Upton, N. British Journal of Pharmacology 1999, 127Proc. Supplement 131P and Routledge, C.; Bromidge, S. M.; Moss, S. F.;Price, G. W.; Hirst, W.; Newman, H.; Riley, G.; Gager, T.; Stean, T.;Upton, N.; Clarke, S. E.; Brown, A. M. British Journal of Pharmacology2000, 130(7), 1606-1612).

Taken together, the above studies strongly suggest that compounds whichare 5-HT6 receptor modulators, i.e. ligands, may be useful fortherapeutic indications including: the treatment of diseases associatedwith a deficit in memory, cognition, and learning such as Alzheimer'sand attention deficit disorder; the treatment of personality disorderssuch as schizophrenia; the treatment of behavioral disorders, e.g.,anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorders; the treatment ofmotion or motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy; thetreatment of diseases associated with neurodegeneration such as strokeand head trauma; or withdrawal from drug addiction including addictionto nicotine, alcohol, and other substances of abuse.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide compounds whichare useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety ofcentral nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6receptor.

It is another object of this invention to provide therapeutic methodsand pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of centralnervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

It is a feature of this invention that the compounds provided may alsobe used to further study and elucidate the 5-HT6 receptor.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent by the detailed description set forth hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a heterocyclyl-3-sulfonylazaindole or-azaindazole compound of formula I

wherein

-   -   W is N or CR₂;    -   X is N or CR₄;    -   Y is N or CR₅;    -   Z is N or CR₆;    -   Q is N or CR₇ with the proviso that at least one and not more        than two of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;    -   R₁ is an optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,        aryl, or heteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to        13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at        the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional        heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;    -   R₂ is H, halogen, or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,        aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;    -   R₃ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl        group each optionally substituted;    -   R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR₈,        OCO₂R₉, CO₂R₁₀, CONR₁₁R₁₂, SO_(n)R₁₃, NR₁₄R₁₅, OR₁₆ or a        C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted or a group M having the structure

-   -    with the proviso that at least one of R₄, R₅, R₆ or R₇ must be        a group M and with the further proviso that when W is CR₂ and X        or Z is N, then R₇ must be other than a group M;    -   R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₃ are each independently H or a C₁-C₆alkyl,        C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl,        aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;    -   R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently H or an optionally        substituted C₁-C₄alkyl group or R₁₁ and R₁₂ or R₁₄ and R₁₅ may        be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to        form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another        heteroatom selected from O, NR₂₂ or SO_(n);    -   R₁₆ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,        C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted;    -   n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;    -   R₁₇ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each        optionally substituted;    -   R₁₈, R₁₉, R₂₀, R₂₁ and R₂₃ are each independently H or a        C₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;    -   m is 1 or 2; and    -   R₂₂ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,        C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted; or        the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable        salts thereof.

The present invention also provides methods and compositions useful forthe therapeutic treatment of a central nervous system disorder relatedto or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 (5-HT6) receptor is one of the most recentreceptors to be identified by molecular cloning. Its ability to bind awide range of therapeutic compounds used in psychiatry, coupled with itsintriguing distribution in the brain has stimulated significant interestin new compounds which are capable of interacting with or affecting saidreceptor. Significant efforts are being made to understand the possiblerole of the 5-HT6 receptor in psychiatry, cognitive dysfunction, motorfunction and control, memory, mood and the like. To that end, compoundswhich demonstrate a binding affinity for the 5-HT6 receptor areearnestly sought both as an aid in the study of the 5-HT6 receptor andas potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of central nervoussystem disorders, for example see C. Reavill and D. C. Rogers, CurrentOpinion in Investigational Drugs, 2001, 2(1):104-109, Pharma Press Ltd.

Surprisingly, it has now been found thatheterocyclyl-3-sulfonylazaindole and -azaindazole derivatives of formulaI demonstrate 5-HT6 affinity. Advantageously, said azaindole andazaindazole derivatives may be used as effective therapeutic agents forthe treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders associated withor affected by the 5-HT6 receptor. Accordingly, the present inventionprovides 1-heterocyclyl-3-sulfonylazaindole and -azaindazole derivativesof formula I

wherein

-   -   W is N or CR₂;    -   X is N or CR₄;    -   Y is N or CR₅;    -   Z is N or CR₆;    -   Q is N or CR₇ with the proviso that at least one and not more        than two of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;    -   R₁ is an optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,        aryl, or heteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to        13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at        the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional        heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;    -   R₂ is H, halogen, or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,        aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;    -   R₃ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl        group each optionally substituted;    -   R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR₈,        OCO₂R₉, CO₂R₁₀, CONR₁₁R₁₂, SO_(n)R₁₃, NR₁₄R₁₅, OR₁₆ or a        C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted or a group M having the structure

-   -   with the proviso that at least one of R₄, R₅, R₆ or R₇ must be a        group M and with the further proviso that when W is CR₂ and X or        Z is N, then R₇ must be other than a group M;    -   R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₃ are each independently H or a C₁-C₆alkyl,        C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl,        aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;    -   R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently H or an optionally        substituted C₁-C₄alkyl group or R₁₁, and R₁₂ or R₁₄ and R₁₅ may        be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to        form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another        heteroatom selected from O, NR₂₂ or SO_(n);    -   R₁₆ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,        C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted;    -   n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;    -   R₁₇ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each        optionally substituted;    -   R₁₈, R₁₉, R₂₀, R₂₁ and R₂₃ are each independently H or a        C₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;    -   m is 1 or 2; and    -   R₂₂ is H or a C₁-C6alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,        C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each        optionally substituted; or        the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable        salts thereof.

As used in the specification and claims, the term halogen designates F,Cl, Br or I and the term cycloheteroalkyl designates a five- toseven-membered cycloalkyl ring system containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms,which may be the same or different, selected from N, O or S andoptionally containing one double bond. Exemplary of the cycloheteroalkylring systems included in the term as designated herein are the followingrings wherein X is NR, O or S; and R is H or an optional substituent asdescribed hereinbelow:

Similarly, as used in the specification and claims, the term heteroaryldesignates a five- to ten-membered aromatic ring system containing 1, 2or 3 heteroatoms, which may be the same or different, selected from N, Oor S. Such heteroaryl ring systems include pyrrolyl, azolyl, oxazolyl,thiazolyl, imidazolyl, furyl, thienyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,indolyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, benzisoxazolyl or the like. Theterm aryl designates a carbocyclic aromatic ring system such as phenyl,naphthyl, anthracenyl or the like. The term haloalkyl as used hereindesignates a C_(n)H_(2n+1) group having from one to 2n+1 halogen atomswhich may be the same or different and the term haloalkoxy as usedherein designates an OC_(n)H_(2n+1) group having from one to 2n+1halogen atoms which may be the same or different.

Exemplary of the 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring systemshaving a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S included in the term asdesignated herein are the following ring systems wherein W₂ is NR, O orS; and R is H or an optional substituent as described hereinbelow:

In the specification and claims, when the terms C₁-C₆alkyl,C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl orheteroaryl as designated as being optionally substituted, thesubstituent groups which are optionally present may be one or more ofthose customarily employed in the development of pharmaceuticalcompounds or the modification of such compounds to influence theirstructure/activity, persistence, absorption, stability or otherbeneficial property. Specific examples of such substituents includehalogen atoms, nitro, cyano, thiocyanato, cyanato, hydroxyl, alkyl,haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, formyl,alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, alkanoyl, alkylthio, alkylsuphinyl,alkylsulphonyl, carbamoyl, alkylamido, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl,benzyloxy, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl groups, preferably halogen atomsor lower alkyl or lower alkoxy groups. Typically, 0-3 substituents maybe present. When any of the foregoing substituents represents orcontains an alkyl substituent group, this may be linear or branched andmay contain up to 12, preferably up to 6, more preferably up to 4 carbonatoms.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be any acid addition salt formedby a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable acid suchas phosphoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, citric, maleic,malonic, mandelic, succinic, fumaric, acetic, lactic, nitric, sulfonic,p-toluene sulfonic, methane sulfonic acid or the like.

Compounds of the invention include esters, carbamates or otherconventional prodrug forms, which in general, are functional derivativesof the compounds of the invention and which are readily converted to theinventive active moiety in vivo. Correspondingly, the method of theinvention embraces the treatment of the various conditions describedhereinabove with a compound of formula I or with a compound which is notspecifically disclosed but which, upon administration, converts to acompound of formula I in vivo. Also included are metabolites of thecompounds of the present invention defined as active species producedupon introduction of these compounds into a biological system.

Compounds of the invention may exist as one or more stereoisomers. Thevarious stereoisomers include enantiomers, diastereomers, atropisomersand geometric isomers. One skilled in the art will appreciate that onestereoisomer may be more active or may exhibit beneficial effects whenenriched relative to the other stereoisomer(s) or when separated fromthe other stereoisomer(s). Additionally, the skilled artisan knows howto separate, enrich or selectively prepare said stereoisomers.Accordingly, the present invention comprises compounds of Formula I, thestereoisomers thereof and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.The compounds of the invention may be present as a mixture ofstereoisomers, individual stereoisomers, or as an optically active orenantiomerically pure form.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those compounds of formula Iwherein m is 1. Also preferred are those compounds of formula I whereinY is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M. Another group of preferred compounds offormula I are those compounds wherein W is N; Q is CR₇ and R₇ is a groupM.

More preferred compounds of the invention are those formula I compoundswherein m is 1; Y is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M. Another group of morepreferred compounds are those formula I compounds wherein W is N; m is1; Q is CR₇ and R₇ is a group M. Further more preferred formula Icompounds are those compounds wherein m is 1; R₅ is a group M and R₁ isan optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl or heteroaryl group.

Examples of preferred compounds of formula I include:

-   5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   3[-(3-cyanophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;-   5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(2-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;-   3-[(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   1-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;-   1-phenyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;-   5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;-   3-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;-   3-[(2-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   3-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   2-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   4-chloro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   7-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   6-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;-   6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;-   6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   4-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine;-   3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-(2-thienylsulfonyl)-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1-methyl-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine;-   3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine;-   3-(2-thienylsulfonyl)-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1-methyl-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-7-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine;-   3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine;-   3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine;-   3-(2-thienylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1-methyl-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine;-   3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine;    the stereoisomers thereof; or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts    thereof.

Compounds of the invention may be prepared using conventional syntheticmethods and, if required, standard separation or isolation techniques.For example, compounds of formula I wherein R₃ is H and W is CR₂ (Ia)may be prepared by reacting a nitropyridine compound of formula II withreducing agents such as Fe, Zn or Sn in the presence of an acid to givethe amine of formula III; reacting said amine with an appropriateorthoester of formula IV to give the formula V compound; and cyclizingthe formula V compound in the presence of a base to give the desiredazaindole product of formula Ia. Methods known to prepare3-sulfonylazaindoles are described by Wojciechowski, K. and Makosza, M.,Synthesis 1986, 651-653 and by Orlemans, E. O. M.; Schreuder, A. H.;Conti, P. G. M.; Verboom, W.; and Reinhoudt, D. N., Tetrahedron 1987,43, 3817-3826. In a similar manner, the formula III amine may be reactedwith NaNO₂ in the presence of an acid to give those compounds of formulaI wherein R₃ is H and W is N (Ib). The reactions are shown in flowdiagram I.

Compounds of formula II wherein Z is N; Y is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M(IIa) may be prepared by reacting a nitropyridine of formula VI with adiazacyclic compound of formula VII in the presence of a base such asK₂CO₃ to give the formula IIa compound. The formula IIa compound maythen be reduced and cyclized as described hereinabove in flow diagram Ito give compounds of formula I wherein Z is N; Y is CR₅; and R₅ is agroup M (Ic). The reactions are shown in flow diagram II wherein Halrepresents chlorine, bromine or fluorine.

Alternatively, compounds of formula Ic may be prepared directly from anazaindole or azaindazole compound of formula VIII by coupling theformula VIII substrate with a diazacyclic compound of formula VII in thepresence of a catalyst, such as a palladium catalyst, to give theprotected compound of formula IX and deprotecting the formula IXcompound to give the desired compound of formula Ic. The reaction isshown in flow diagram III wherein LG represents a leaving group such asiodine, bromine, chlorine or an activated hydroxyl group, for example atriflate (CF₃SO₃ ⁻) and P is a protecting group.

Compounds of formula VIII, or the isosteres or regisomers thereof, maybe prepared by conventional methods. For example, a protected azaindoleor azaindazole of formula X may be reacted with a methylsulfonylcompound of formula XI to give the 3-thio compound of formula XII; said3-thio compound may be oxidized using a conventional oxidizing agentsuch as H₂O₂, m-chloroperbenzoic acid or the like to give thecorresponding 3-sulfonyl compound of formula VIII. The reaction is shownin flow diagram IV wherein LG and P are as described hereinabove.

Compounds of formula Ib or Ic wherein R₃ is other than H may be preparedusing conventional alkylation/deprotection or coupling procedures, suchas a Suzuki-type coupling. For example, compounds of formula I wherein Yis N; Z is CR₆; R₆ is a group M; and R₃ is other than H (Id) may beprepared by reacting a protected compound of formula XIII with analkylating agent of formula XIV in the presence of a base and a solventoptionally in the presence of a phase-transfer agent to give theprotected alkylated compound of formula XV and deprotecting said formulaXV compound to give the desired compound of formula Id wherein R₁₇ is H;optionally this compound may be reacted with an alkylating agent offormula XVI under standard alkylation conditions to give the compound offormula Id wherein R₁₇ is other than H. If desired, the sequence may bereversed by deprotecting the formula XIV compound to give the compoundof formula I wherein R₃ and R₁₇ are H (Ie) and alkylating the formula Iecompound with the formula XVI alkylating agent to give the compound offormula Id. The reactions are shown in flow diagram V wherein P is aprotecting group and LG′ is a leaving group such as Cl, Br, I, OH,tosyl, mesyl or the like.

It is understood that the reaction sequences shown in flow diagrams II,III, IV and V are applicable to the corresponding isosteres wherein anyone of X, Y, Z or Q may represent N or to the corresponding regioisomers wherein any one of R₄, R₅, R₆ or R₇ may represent a group M.

Protecting groups suitable for use in the reactions shown hereinaboveinclude t-butyloxycarbonyl, benzyl, acetyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, or anyconventional group known to protect a basic nitrogen in standardsynthetic procedures.

Advantageously, the formula I compounds of the invention are useful forthe treatment of CNS disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6receptor, including motor, mood, personality, behavioral, psychiatric,cognitive, neurodegenerative, or the like disorders, for exampleAlzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit disorder,anxiety, epilepsy, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleepdisorders, neurodegenerative disorders (such as head trauma or stroke),feeding disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia), schizophrenia, memoryloss, disorders associated with withdrawal from drug or nicotine abuse,or the like or certain gastrointestinal disorders such as irritablebowel syndrome. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method forthe treatment of a disorder of the central nervous system related to oraffected by the 5-HT6 receptor in a patient in need thereof whichcomprises providing said patient a therapeutically effective amount of acompound of formula I as described hereinabove. The compounds may beprovided by oral or parenteral administration or in any common mannerknown to be an effective administration of a therapeutic agent to apatient in need thereof.

The term “providing” as used herein with respect to providing a compoundor substance embraced by the invention, designates either directlyadministering such a compound or substance, or administering a prodrug,derivative or analog which forms an equivalent amount of the compound orsubstance within the body.

The therapeutically effective amount provided in the treatment of aspecific CNS disorder may vary according to the specific condition(s)being treated, the size, age and response pattern of the patient, theseverity of the disorder, the judgment of the attending physician andthe like. In general, effective amounts for daily oral administrationmay be about 0.01 to 1,000 mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 500 mg/kg andeffective amounts for parenteral administration may be about 0.1 to 100mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 50 mg/kg.

In actual practice, the compounds of the invention are provided byadministering the compound or a precursor thereof in a solid or liquidform, either neat or in combination with one or more conventionalpharmaceutical carriers or excipients. Accordingly, the presentinvention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises apharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of acompound of formula I as described hereinabove.

Solid carriers suitable for use in the composition of the inventioninclude one or more substances which may also act as flavoring agents,lubricants, solubilizers, suspending agents, fillers, glidants,compression aides, binders, tablet-disintegrating agents orencapsulating materials. In powders, the carrier may be a finely dividedsolid which is in admixture with a finely divided compound of formula I.In tablets, the formula I compound may be mixed with a carrier havingthe necessary compression properties in suitable proportions andcompacted in the shape and size desired. Said powders and tablets maycontain up to 99% by weight of the formula I compound. Solid carrierssuitable for use in the composition of the invention include calciumphosphate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugars, lactose, dextrin, starch,gelatin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,polyvinylpyrrolidine, low melting waxes and ion exchange resins.

Any pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier suitable for preparingsolutions, suspensions, emulsions, syrups and elixirs may be employed inthe composition of the invention. Compounds of formula I may bedissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carriersuch as water, an organic solvent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable oilor fat, or a mixture thereof. Said liquid composition may contain othersuitable pharmaceutical additives such as solubilizers, emulsifiers,buffers, preservatives, sweeteners, flavoring agents, suspending agents,thickening agents, coloring agents, viscosity regulators, stabilizers,osmo-regulators, or the like. Examples of liquid carriers suitable fororal and parenteral administration include water (particularlycontaining additives as above, e.g., cellulose derivatives, preferablysodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution), alcohols (including monohydricalcohols and polyhydric alcohols, e.g., glycols) or their derivatives,or oils (e.g., fractionated coconut oil and arachis oil). For parenteraladministration the carrier may also be an oily ester such as ethyloleate or isopropyl myristate.

Compositions of the invention which are sterile solutions or suspensionsare suitable for intramuscular, intraperitoneal or subcutaneousinjection. Sterile solutions may also be administered intravenously.Inventive compositions suitable for oral administration may be in eitherliquid or solid composition form.

For a more clear understanding, and in order to illustrate the inventionmore clearly, specific examples thereof are set forth hereinbelow. Thefollowing examples are merely illustrative and are not to be understoodas limiting the scope and underlying principles of the invention in anyway.

The term NMR designates proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The terms DMFand EtOAc designate dimethyl formamide and ethyl acetate, respectively.The term THF designates tetrahydrofuran. In the structures, the term Phdesignates a phenyl group.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 1-Methyl-4-(5-nitropyridin-2-yl)piperazine

A stirred mixture of 2-chloro-5-nitropyridine (3.16 g, 20.0 mmol),1-methyl-piperazine (2.00 g, 2.00 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2.76 g,20.0 mmol) in DMF is heated at 100° C. for 24 h, cooled, poured intowater and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combined extracts are dried overMgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue is purified byflash chromatography (SiO₂, 2% ammonia in 10:90 ethanol:ethyl acetate aseluent) affords the title compound as an off-white solid, 4.0 g (90%yield), identified by NMR analysis.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of1-Methyl-4-{5-nitro-6-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}piperazine

A stirred solution of 1-methyl-4-(5-nitropyridin-2-yl)piperazine (1.10g, 5.00 mmol) and chloromethylphenylsulfone (0.950 g, 5.00 mmol) in dryTHF, under nitrogen, is cooled to −60° C., treated with 1.0 M KO^(t)Buin THF (10.0 mL, 10.0 mmol), allowed to warm to −10° C. over a 1 hperiod, quenched with acetic acid, treated sequentially with water andsaturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combinedextracts are washed sequentially with water and brine, dried over MgSO₄and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue is crystallized fromEtOAc to give the title compound as a yellow solid, 1.60 g (85% yield),mp: 170°-172° C., identified by mass spectral and NMR analyses.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of6-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridin-3-yl-amine

A mixture of1-methyl-4-{5-nitro-6-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}-piperazine(1.60 g, 4.35 mmol) and 10% Pd/C (200 mg) in a 1:1 mixture ofethanol:THF is hydrogenated at 45 psi for 4 h at ambient temperatures.The catalyst is filtered off and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuoto afford the title compound as a yellow solid, 1.45 g (99% yield),identified by NMR analysis.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrazolo-[4,3-b]pyridinehydrochloride

A stirred solution of2-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]-6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-ylamine(1.20 g, 3.50 mmol) in 1.0 M aqueous hydrochloric acid (20 mL) is cooledin an ice bath, treated dropwise with NaNO₂ (358 mg, 5.2 mmol) in water,stirred for 1 h, treated with aqueous saturated NaHCO₃ and filtered. Thebrown solid filtercake is washed with water, dried in vacuo, trituratedwith acetone and filtered. The filtercake is washed with ether andair-dried to afford the free amine of the title compound as a tan solid,0.50 g. This solid is dissolved in a mixture of ethanol and 4.0 M HCl indioxane and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue is trituratedwith ether to afford the title compound as an off-white solid, mp>250°C., identified by mass spectral and NMR analyses.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of2-Chloro-5-nitro-6-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridine (A) and2-Chloro-5-nitro-4-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridine (B)

A stirred solution of 2-chloro-5-nitro-pyridine (3.97 g, 25.0 mmol) andchloromethylphenylsulfone (4.76 g, 25.0 mmol) in dry THF at −65° C.under nitrogen is treated with 1.0M KO-t-Bu in THF (55.0 mL, 55.0 mmol),allowed to warm to 0° C. over 1.5 h, treated with glacial acetic acid(5.5 mL), stirred for 0.5 h, treated with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃,stirred for 2 h, and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combined extracts arewashed with brine, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to afforda brown oil. The oil is chromatographed (silica gel, 50:50 EtOAc:hexanesas eluent) to give a slightly yellow solid identified by NMR as amixture of the two title regioisomers A and B (5.67 g, 73%). A secondchromatography (silica gel, 40:60 EtOAc:hexanes as eluent) provides thetitle compound A as a white solid, 1.75 g (23% yield), identified by NMRand mass spectral analyses and the title compound B as a white solid,0.79 g (10% yield), identified by NMR and mass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of6-(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-nitro-2-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]-pyridine

A stirred mixture of 2-chloro-5-nitro-6-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]pyridine(1.41 g, 4.50 mmol), 1-benzylpiperazine (0.873 g, 4.95 mmol), and K₂CO₃(0.683 g, 4.95 mmol) in ethanol is heated at reflux temperature for 1.5h, cooled, diluted with water and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The extractsare combined, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The resultantresidue is chromatographed (silica gel, EtOAc as eluent) to afford thetitle compound as an orange-yellow solid, 1.96 g (96% yield), mp175-176° C., identified by NMR and mass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of3-Amino-6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]-pyridine

A stirred mixture of6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-nitro-2-[(phenylsulfonyl)-methyl]pyridine(1.81 g, 4.00 mmol) and granular tin (2.09 g, 17.6 mmol) in methanol istreated with conc. HCl, heated under nitrogen at 50° C. for 7 h, stirredat ambient temperatures for 16 h, poured into aqueous NaHCO₃ andextracted with EtOAc. The combined extracts are dried over MgSO₄ andconcentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue is chromatographed (silicagel, EtOAc as eluent) to afford the title compound as a yellow solid,1.47 g (87% yield), mp 175-176° C., identified by NMR and mass spectralanalyses.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of5-(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine

A stirred solution of3-amino-6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-[(phenylsulfonyl)-methyl]pyridine(1.41 g, 3.34 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (63 mg, 0.33mmol), triethyl orthoformate (2.78 mL, 16.7 mmol) in 1,2-dichloroethaneis heated at reflux temperature under nitrogen for 7.5 h, stirred atroom temperature for 16 h and in vacuo to afford an oil residue. Theresidue is stirred in dry THF, treated with 1.0M KO-t-Bu in THF (4.35mL, 4.35 mmol) for 2 h, treated sequentially with saturated aqueousNH₄Cl, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and water and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. Thecombined extracts are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to givea yellow solid residue. This residue is chromatograped (silica gel,EtOAc as eluent to afford the title compound as a pale yellow solid,1.18 g (79% yield), mp 238-239° C., identified by NMR and mass spectralanalyses.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation3-(Phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridineDihydrochloride

A stirred mixture of5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine(0.865 g, 2.00 mmol) and 1-chloroethylchloroformate (0.65 mL, 6.00 mmol)in 1,2-dichloroethane is heated at reflux temperature for 2.5 h undernitrogen, cooled and concentrated in vacuo, and reconcentrated fromCH₂Cl₂ to a solid. This solid is heated with ethanol at refluxtemperature under nitrogen for 2 h, cooled and concentrated in vacuo.The resultant residue is stirred in ethanol for 16 h and filtered. Thefiltercake is heated with methanol and two drops of concentratedhydrochloric acid for 30 h and concentrated in vacuo to a solid. Thissolid is chromatographed (silica gel, 5:95 concentrated ammoniumhydroxide:ethanol as eluent) to afford the free amine of the titlecompound as a white solid. The free amine is dissolved in methanol,treated with 2.0 M aqueous hydrochloric acid (1.1 mL, 2.2 mmol) andconcentrated to an off-white solid residue. This residue isrecystallized from methanol to afford the title compound as an off-whitesolid, 165 mg (24% yield), mp 198-203° C. (foams), identified by NMR andmass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 10 Comparative Evaluation of 5-HT6 Binding Affinity of TestCompounds

The affinity of test compounds for the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor isevaluated in the following manner. Cultured Hela cells expressing humancloned 5-HT6 receptors are harvested and centrifuged at low speed(1,000×g) for 10.0 min to remove the culture media. The harvested cellsare suspended in half volume of fresh physiological phosphate bufferedsaline solution and recentrifuged at the same speed. This operation isrepeated. The collected cells are then homogenized in ten volumes of 50mM Tris.HCl (pH 7.4) and 0.5 mM EDTA. The homogenate is centrifuged at40,000×g for 30.0 min and the precipitate is collected. The obtainedpellet is resuspended in 10 volumes of Tris.HCl buffer and recentrifugedat the same speed. The final pellet is suspended in a small volume ofTris.HCl buffer and the tissue protein content is determined in aliquotsof 10-25 μl volumes. Bovine Serum Albumin is used as the standard in theprotein determination according to the method described in Lowry et al.,J. Biol. Chem., 193:265 (1951). The volume of the suspended cellmembranes is adjusted to give a tissue protein concentration of 1.0mg/ml of suspension. The prepared membrane suspension (10 timesconcentrated) is aliquoted in 1.0 ml volumes and stored at −70° C. untilused in subsequent binding experiments.

Binding experiments are performed in a 96 well microtiter plate format,in a total volume of 200 μl. To each well is added the followingmixture: 80.0 ∞l of incubation buffer made in 50 mM Tris.HCl buffer (pH7.4) containing 10.0 mM MgCl₂ and 0.5 mM EDTA and 20 μl of [³H]-LSD(S.A., 86.0 Ci/mmol, available from Amersham Life Science), 3.0 nM. Thedissociation constant, K_(D) of the [³H]LSD at the human serotonin 5-HT6receptor is 2.9 nM, as determined by saturation binding with increasingconcentrations of [³H]LSD. The reaction is initiated by the finaladdition of 100.0 μl of tissue suspension. Nonspecific binding ismeasured in the presence of 10.0 μM methiothepin. The test compounds areadded in 20.0 μl volume.

The reaction is allowed to proceed in the dark for 120 min at roomtemperature, at which time, the bound ligand-receptor complex isfiltered off on a 96 well unifilter with a Packard Filtermate® 196Harvester. The bound complex caught on the filter disk is allowed to airdry and the radioactivity is measured in a Packard TopCount® equippedwith six photomultiplier detectors, after the addition of 40.0 μlMicroscint®−20 scintillant to each shallow well. The unifilter plate isheat-sealed and counted in a PackardTopCount® with a tritium efficiencyof 31.0%.

Specific binding to the 5-HT6 receptor is defined as the totalradioactivity bound less the amount bound in the presence of 10.0 μMunlabeled methiothepin. Binding in the presence of varyingconcentrations of test compound is expressed as a percentage of specificbinding in the absence of test compound. The results are plotted as log% bound versus log concentration of test compound. Nonlinear regressionanalysis of data points with a computer assisted program Prism® yieldedboth the IC₅₀ and the K_(i) values of test compounds with 95% confidencelimits. A linear regression line of data points is plotted, from whichthe IC₅₀ value is determined and the K_(i) value is determined basedupon the following equation:K _(i) =IC ₅₀/(1+L/K _(D))where L is the concentration of the radioactive ligand used and K_(D) isthe dissociation constant of the ligand for the receptor, both expressedin nM.

Using this assay, the following Ki values are determined and compared tothose values obtained by representative compounds known to demonstratebinding to the 5-HT6 receptor. The data are shown in Table I, below.

TABLE I 5-HT6 Binding Ki (nM) Test Compound (Ex. No.) 4 34 8 30 9 2Comparative Examples Loxapine 41.4 Mianserin 44.2

1. A compound of formula I

wherein W is CR₂; X is N or CR₄; Y is N or CR₅; Z is N or CR₆; Q is N orCR₇ with the proviso that one and only one of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;R₁ is an optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclicor tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead andoptionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N,O or S; R₂ is H, halogen, or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted; R₃ is H or a,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR₈, OCO₂R₉,CO₂R₁₀, CONR₁₁R₁₂, SO_(n)R₁₃, NR₁₄R₁₅, OR₁₆ or a C₁-C₆alkyl,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted ora group M having the structure

with the proviso that at least one of R₄, R₅, R₆ or R₇ must be a group Mand with the further proviso that when W is CR₂ and X or Z is N, then R₇must be other than a group M; R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₃ are each independentlyH or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl,cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently H or an optionallysubstituted C₁-C₄alkyl group or R₁₁ and R₁₂ or R₁₄ and R₁₅ may be takentogether with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected fromO, NR₂₂ or SO_(n); R₁₆ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group eachoptionally substituted; n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; R₁₇ is H or aC₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted; R₁₈,R₁₉, R₂₀, R₂₁ and R₂₃ are each independently H or a C₁-C₆alkyl orC₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted; m is 1 or 2; and R₂₂is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;or the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein m is
 1. 3. Thecompound according to claim 1 wherein Y is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M. 4.The compound according to claim 2 wherein Y is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M.5. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R₁ is an optionallysubstituted phenyl, naphthyl or heteroaryl group.
 6. The compoundaccording to claim 5 wherein R₅ or R₇ is a group M.
 7. The compoundaccording to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3[-(3-cyanophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(2-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-[(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;1-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;1-phenyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;3-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-[(2-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;2-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-chloro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;7-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;6-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;and3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;or 3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine; astereoisomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 8.A pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound of formula I

wherein W is CR₂; X is N or CR₄; Y is N or CR₅; Z is N or CR₆; Q is N orCR₇ with the proviso that one and only one of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;R₁ is an optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclicor tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead andoptionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N,O or S; R₂ is H, halogen, or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted; R₃ is H or a,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR₈, OCO₂R₉,CO₂R₁₀, CONR₁₁R₁₂, SO_(n)R₁₃, NR₁₄R₁₅, OR₁₆ or a C₁-C₆alkyl,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted ora group M having the structure

with the proviso that at least one of R₄, R₅, R₆ or R₇ must be a group Mand with the further proviso that when W is CR₂ and X or Z is N, then R₇must be other than a group M; R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₃ are each independentlyH or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl,cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently H or an optionallysubstituted C₁-C₄alkyl group or R₁₁ and R₁₂ or R₁₄ and R₁₅ may be takentogether with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected fromO, NR₂₂ or SO_(n); R₁₆ is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl,C₃-C₇cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group eachoptionally substituted; n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; R₁₇ is H or aC₁-C₆alkyl or C₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted; R₁₈,R₁₉, R₂₀, R₂₁ and R₂₃ are each independently H or a C₁-C₆alkyl orC₃-C₇cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted; m is 1 or 2; and R₂₂is H or a C₁-C₆alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl, C₃-C₇cycloalkyl,cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;or the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof.
 9. The composition according to claim 8 having a formula Icompound wherein m is
 1. 10. The composition according to claim 9 havinga formula I compound wherein Y is CR₅ and R₅ is a group M.
 11. Thecomposition according to claim 9 having a formula I compound wherein R₁is an optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl or heteroaryl group. 12.The composition according to claim 8 having a formula I compoundselected from the group consisting of:5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3[-(3-cyanophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(1-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(2-naphthyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-[(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;1-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;1-phenyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;3-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-[(2-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;2-methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-chloro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;7-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;6-fluoro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-5-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine;6-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;3-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine;and3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(4-propylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine;or 3-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-piperazin-1-yl-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine; astereoisomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.